After one of the shock results of the season, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that his side were too wasteful and praised the determination that earned Wolves their 1-0 win.
The home side had to endure plenty of United pressure at Molineux, but surivived it all and were able to pounce in the second half when a Wes Brown slip let Kenny Miller in to score the winner.
Ferguson said: "I thought we controlled the match in the first half particularly and played some excellent football. We were wasteful with our chances after creating some really good positions and did not really finish them off.
"Once Wolves did score they were difficult to peg back. You expect that - they are fighting for their life and want to stay in the Premier Division. They have languished for a few years and have the appetite to stay in the Premiership."
He admitted his players became frustrated when they fell behind: "It wasn't a poor performance. We got frustrated once Wolves scored but that was a natural reaction. I have no problems with our performance but we did not take our chances."
Ferguson said that he felt that United could have had a penalty in the first half when Darren Fletcher appeared to be tripped by Michael Oakes: "Everyone says it was a penalty. Andy D'Urso is an experienced referee but he probably sided with the home side a bit there."
It was a particularly disappointing day for Rio Ferdinand, who had to limp off early in his last game before starting a lengthy ban. Ferguson said: "He got a shin knock in the first half and it came up like an egg once he cooled down at half-time."
Wolves boss Dave Jones was understandably delighted with Miller's goal: "Kenny has had to adapt to the pace of the Premiership but he got a couple of goals against Kidderminster and that's just given him confidence he needed. Today, the keeper has just let it go through him and Kenny's got his goal. That's what you need sometimes - that bit of luck.
"We've been playing some good football and not turned draws into wins but our luck turned round today. We keep believing and that's what it's all about," said Jones. "One thing the lads have kept here is camaraderie and spirit. It helps you as coach because they are willing to work.
"We just wanted to shove them down the sides because United are at their best when they are coming at you through the middle," explained Jones. When you're playing against Manchester United they're going to break you down but if you keep showing them into areas they don't want to go to then there's less chance of them scoring goals."
|
